Digging machine



Dec..4, 1951 G. E. RUSSELL I 2,577,271

DIGGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1947 wllalllllllnllll'iz Illlllliii7i7/IIIIA G. E. RUSSELL 2,577,271

DIGGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 80 61 aim Dec. 4, 1951 Filed Nov. 18,1947 Dec. 4, 1951 e. E. RUSSELL 2,577,271

DIGGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1947' 4 sheets-sheet 4 SJ WM GwY/vRUSSELL Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to coin controlled dispensing apparatus ofthe crane type including a manually positionable bucket or claw in whichthe amount or character of the merchandise vended depends to some extentupon the skill of the operator.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improveddispensing apparatus of the type specified characterized by itssimplicity of construction with a reduced number of elements arranged ina foolproof manner to require a minimum amount of maintenance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatusof the type specifled which may be simple and easily manufactured inlarge quantities with present day mass production methods andoperations.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide improvedoperating mechanism in apparatus of the type specified, said apparatusbeing effective in a novel manner to move the bucket or claw from a,normal, at rest, suspended position to a position above a desirablearticle after which the mechanism automatically a lows the bucket todrop over such article with the bucket in open position and tothereafter cause the upward and horizontal movement of the bucket to aposition above a dispensing chute after which the bucket isautomatically opened and maintained in stationary position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism of the type specified in which the operating mechanism issimple and of a minimum number of parts.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. This inventionitself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further obects and advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the fol owing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of the apparatusembodying the present invention showing the crane bucket or claw in itsnormal at rest suspended pos tion and corresponds substantially to asectional view on the line l-I of Figure 4.

Figure 2 is a detail view similar to Figure 1 while it is being loweredfrom its raised position shown in Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and shows the bucket in theclosed position which it assumes when it is being raised upwardly.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the machine embodying the presentinvention taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 55 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 5 taken substantiallyon the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the apparatusshown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the clutch arrangement takensubstantially on the line 88 in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 99 ofFigure 1 and shows a part of the coin operating mechanism.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show pro ressively in that order the relativepositions of the release mechanism when the manually operatable membershown in Figure 9 is moved inwardly and then outwardly after the depositof the proper coin in the slot.

Figure 13 is a view taken substantially in the direction indicated bythe arrows l3-l3 in Figure 4 and shows the manner in which one of theelectrical switches is maintained in open position.

Figure 14 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 13 but with theoperating mechanism in a, different position to allow closure of theswitch.

Figure 15 is a'view taken substantially in the direction indicated bythe arrows |5-l5 in Fi ure 17.

Figure 16 is a view similar to the view shown in Fi ure 15 but with theo erating mechani m in difierent pos tion to allow closure of the switchshown both in Figures 15 and 16,.it being noted that Figures 13 and 15correspond to positions of the switches shown therein while theapparatus is norma ly at rest and Figures 14 and 16 correspond tocorresponding pos tions of the operating mechanism during a cycle ofoperation.

Figure 17 is a sectional view similar to the view shown in Figure 1 butwith parts of the ap aratus removed to more clearly show the releasemechanism.

Fgure 18 shows further constructional details of the clutch assemblyshown in Figure 8 taken substantia ly on the line I8- 8 of Figure 8.

Figure 19 shows the electrical circuit connections for energizing thedriving motor.

Figure 20 is a view in side elevation of an improved buck t, in'openposition, embodying the present invention.

Figure 21 is a view looking up from the bottom of the bucket shown inFigure 20 when the bucket is closed.

Figure 22 is a sectional view taken in the direction indicated by line22-22 in Figure 21 when the bucket is open.

Figure 23 is a View taken substantially in the direction indicated bythe arrows 23-23 in Figure 20.

Figure 24 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bucket shown in Figure20.

The present invention is shown embodied in a well known type of cranecoin controlied machine from which the quality and quantity of articlesdispensed depends to some'degree 'on 'the skill of the operator. Suchmachines are usually coin operated. Upon proper insertion of a coin themechanism is free to be operated by'an individual who may move thebucket to a seemingly advantageous poistion. Upon manual movement of thebucket, an electrically driven mechanism is automatically energized toinitially render the manual control inoperative and then .to move thebucket through acycle ofoperations.

'lSuch :cycle of "operations includes lowering andrangementuponplacing'a coin in a conventional coin chute I and thenmoving the manually .operable slide H of conventional structure firstinwardly and then 'outwardly to cause suchzcoin todrop into -a coin box(not shown"). 'Thiscoin operated mechanism may be of conventionalstructure with the reciprocal slide 'member I?! thereof attached to anactuating member "M 'arran ed to o erate a mechanism to allow 'thebucket l to be positioned upon subsequent turn- "ing of the manuallyrotatable knob l6. While the knob l 6 is being turned. a switch I Tiscaused to close to thereby energize the bucket moving mechanism which isdriven by the electrical .motor l8.

The mechanism driven by motor I8 includes a pair of eccentr callymounted arms 29, 2| which are attached throu h flexible bead cables 22,23 res ective y to the bucket 1'5 a ter'passing over pullevs 24, 25 onthe cab structure 26 and boom structur 2'1, respectively. Theb'oomstructure 27 nivota ly mounted on the cab structure 26 at 2'8 isheld in a'diusted position by theflexib'le bead cable 30 having one ofits end-s anchored onto the cab structure 26 and the other one of itsends anchored to the free end of the boom 21.

The bucket l5 may be of conventional construction. The bucket l-5 may,for example, and not as a limitation, be of the ty e shown and describedin the Bartlett Patent 2,166.854, and as shown therein, the cables 22,23 may be attached thereto for producing opening and tclosing'move mentof the bucket jaws. This bucket may likewise be of the constructionshow'n'in Figures 24, inclusive.

The cab 26 with the bucket 15 mounted thereon is mounted 'on therotatable shaft 35 about a vertical axis for positioning and moving thebucket mounted thereon. This shaft 3'5 projects through a partition 35and through a stationary frame-work 36A. and is journa'led at verticallyspaced points 31. 38. The 'cab is initially moved outwardly from itsnormaL at rest, position shown in Figure 1 by turning the manualQOILUQl,

4 knob l6 which is initially coupled to the shaft 35 through the clutch60, the shaft 3 l, the universal joint 42, shaft 43, and the releasablefriction clutch element 44 arranged to frictionally engage the undersideof the disc 45 which is keyed on the shaft 35. After a predeterminedamount of movement of the control knob Hi, the projection 46 '(Figures15" and 16) on the upper face of the disc 45 causes the switch ll toclose to thereby energize the motor 18 and a short time there- "afterthe cab shaft, 35 is driven by the electrical motor-l8 through themutilated gear 28 keyed to the shaft 35, the coupling between themutilated gea'r-EB and the motor !8 comprises in order, as .shown inFigures 5 and 13: motor shaft 511, flexible coupl'ing'lil, shaft 52,worm gear 53, shaft 54, coupling 55, shaft 55, worm gear 5?, shaft 58and mutilated gear 59 keyed on shaft '58 for cooperation with themutilated gear 43 on the cab shaft 35. It is noted at this point.thatthe manual control knobv lfiserves to move .the bucket i5 to-itsmost extreme position'away fromits normal, at :rest, position shown inFigure 1 while the motor l8 which isautomatically :energized byoperationof knob it serves to move the bucket-back to normal poistion.

Uponenergizationof the motor it! produced by manual operation of knobt6, the shaft 58 is driven to allow closure of switch which is normallymaintained in open position by the projection Bl on the mutilated'gear59 engaging the arm 6-2 of switch 59 andthereafter theteeth on themutilated gear 59 which are normally out of engagement with the teeth onmutilated gear 48, engage the teeth on the other cooperating mutilatedgear 48 to rotate the cab structure '26 in a direction of rotationopposite thatproduced by the knob l6.

Animportant feature of the present invention 'is'the manner in which thebucket is raisedand lowered and openedand closed. This mechanismincludes a'pair of eccentrically mounted arms :20, 21 aifixed to theouter ring is of aball-bcar ing member H, the inner ring member it? ofwhich has its plane at an acute angle with re-- spect to the axis of.the vertical shaft 58 and has 'adisc member M press-fitted therein. Thisdisc member 14 has a circular'aperture therethrough angularly related tothe axis of the member M for receiving the shaft 58 to which it is keyedby set screw 75. The arms 2e, 28 extend in parallel "directions and areaffixed at adjacent ends, on the one hand, to diametrically oppositepoints on the outer ring member 1B and, on the other hand, tocorresponding ends of the flexible bead-type cable '22, 23.

It is apparent that upon rotation-of the shaft-58 produced by the motorl8, the outer bearing ring "10 undergoes a nutating motion, 1. e., thering not only has a rotational component but a'rectilinear component aswell. The arms 2e, ll :attached at diametrically opposite points on thering-10 are-atsuch length that the-desired bucket opening, closing,raising and lowering motions are produced.

The plane of the bearing member it may be at an angle of approximatelythirty-five degrees. (35) with respect to the axis of shaft 58.

Cable 22 serves essentially to open and to maintain bucket l5 open whilecable 23 serves essentially to close and to maintain bucket l5 closed.When cables 22 and 23 are moved simultaneously in the same direction,the bucket is raised or lowered as the case may be; but when cable 22moves relative to cable '23 or vice versa there is a bucket opening" orclosing operation as the case may be. When the bucket is initially movedby knob 6, it remains open since the shaft 58 isnot rotated, but uponsubsequent rotation of shaft 58, the arms 29, 2| are both moved upwardlyat substantially the same rate until the bucket |5 reaches its lowermostposition. Then upon further rotation of shaft 58, cable 23, attached toarm 2|, is moved relative to cable 22 to cause the bucket to close afterwhich both cables 22, 23 or arms 20, 2| are moved downwardly atsubstantially the same rate of speed to raise the bucket in its closedposition. In other words, when the bucket is being swung from its normalposition and then lowered, the cable 22 supports the greater weight ofthe bucket to maintain it open; and upon the subsequent upward movementof the bucket and its return pivotal movement'to a point near its atrest position above the discharge chute (not shown), the cable 23supports thegreater weight 1 of the bucket to maintain it closed.

In order to assure suchmotion of the arms 29, 2| and attached cables'22, 23, the arm 29 is confined to move only in a vertical directionbetween the two-spaced vertical stationary guide members 89, 8|.

It is noted that the shaft 58 makes one revolution per cycle to returnthe arms 2'9, 2| to their original position and for that reason theshaft is termed a one revolution shaft.

The friction clutch element 44 is normally maintained out of drivingengagement with the disc 45 by the catch mechanism 85 (Figures 10-12,17) arranged to cooperate with the pivoted arm 86. In the absence of thecatch 95, the arm 86 which is pivoted on the frame 95A presses theclutch element 44 into engagement with the disc 45 due to the action ofthe tension spring 8'! having one end aflixed to frame 95A and the otherone of its ends affixed to arm 36. Normally, as shown in Figure 10, thecatch 85 maintains the free end of the lever member 86 in depressedposition. Upon depositing a coin and the subsequent manual inward andoutward movement of the slide member l with the actuating member l4attached thereto, the catch member 85 is unlatched as indicated in theseries of Figures 10- through 12, inclusive. It is noted that the catchmember 85 is pivoted on the'frame A and is provided with an arm 88 whichis attached to an end of a tension spring 89, the other end of which isattached to the frame 35A. The catch member is normally biased intoengagement with the lever member 85 by the tension spring 89. Uponinward movement of the slide actuated member H, M and push rod 99attached thereto, the catch member 88, as shown in Figure 11, isdeflected out of catch engaging position by the rod 99 and blocks upwardmovement of the lever member 95. Therefore, it is necessary that thereciprocal slide actuating member ll be moved to its normal position toallow the spring biased lever member 86 to raise, which event occurs asindicated in Figure 12 when the slide actuating member is withdrawn.Thus, in Figure 12 the lever member 95 is allowed to raise to establishthe driving connection between knob l6 and the disc 45.

After a cycle of operation is approximately half completed, the levermember 95 is depressed by means described presently to allow the catch85 to automatically lock it as indicated in Figure 10. The particularmeans for depressing the lever member 86 comprises an extension 2 IAfrom the eccentrically mounted bearing ring member 79. This event occursas indicated in Figure 3 when the bucket is being raised to its raisedposition.

The one-way clutch 40 shown in detail in Figures 8 and 18 is ofconventional structure and serves to couple the manual control knob Hito the shaft 4| in such a manner that the shaft 4| may be rotated onlyin that direction indicated by the arrow M9 in Figure 16.

The shaft 4| is connected to the cylindrical housing 49A by the setscrew |9| while the shaft I02, upon which the control knob I6 is keyed,is connected to the inner cylindrical member 493 of the clutch 40 by theset screw I04. In conventional manner, the three rollers |95 disposed inthe triangular shaped peripheral openings in the cylindrical member 49Bare moved into locking engagement with the internal wall of thecylindrical housing 49A only when the shaft I92 is moved in thedirection indicated'by the arrow l9! in Figure 8. Thus, the control knobIS with the interposed clutch 49 serves to move the boom structure 21 inone direction only; namely, to the left as indicated by the arrow I09 inFigure 4.

The amount of movement of the boom structure 21 in a circular orbitproduced by rotation of the knob It depends upon the speed at which theknob I6 is rotated for the reason that the mechanical driveincorporating the control .knob I5 is automatically made inoperative asthat the operator has manual control of the bucket |5 until the armextension 2|A moves downwardly to engage the lever member 86 asindicated in Figure 3.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision ofthe two mutilated gears 48 and 59 keyed respectively on shafts 35 and58. It is noted that in the normal, at rest, position of the bucket l5,these two mutilated gears are out of engagement as shown in Figure 13.It is further noted that the teeth on gear 48 extend substantially anarcuate distance of 180 while the correspondin cooperating teeth on gear59 extend only an arcuate distance of 90. The gear 59, of course, makesbut one complete revolution per cycle and travels an arcuate distanceless than 2'70 before engaging the teeth on gear 48, the exact angulardistance depending upon the amount the gear 48 is originally displacedfrom its normal, at rest, position by operation of the manual controlknob l 6.

The two switches 60 and I! are both of the same type in that each has aspring contact member normally held out of circuit closing position by acorrespondin pin or projection 5| and 46 respectively on gear 59 anddisc 45. These two switches, as indicated in Figure 19, are connected inparallel or shunt to one another and in series with the windings ofmotor l8 so that closure of either one'of the switches I! or 69 re-"sultsin current :flow to the motor I8 from the "supply'terminalsI,I2.and I I3. H e

The operation of, the-machine is briefly as follows: An operatordeposits a suitable coin in the conventional type :of "coin chute I and:then

'moves the coin slide IJ first inwardly and then outwardly. Such inwardand outward movement of the coinslide I I with the member 9B attachedthereto results in unlatching the lever member 86 in the series ofoperations indicated in Figures 1'7, 10, 11 and 12. When the levermember 86 is thus unlatched a driving connection incorporating themovable clutch element 44 is :provided between the control knob I6 and Ithe disc '45 so *thatthe operator, upon rotation allowed to close tothereby energize the drivin "motor I8. Upon such energization of themotor I8. the shaft 59 coupled thereto is rotated together with themutilated gear 59. Upon movement of such gear 59 the switch 60 isallowed to close, thereby assuring energization of the motor I8 duringthe remainder of the cycle. Also, when the shaft 58 is thus rotated bythe motor I8 the arms 20 and 2| are moved in such a manner, that thebucket I is, in turn, lowered, closed and then raised while closed inaccordance with forces im-parted to the flexible cables 22 and 23 on theends of the arms 29 and 2|, respectively, When the arm 2! is thus movedto its uppermost pQ sition shown in Figure 3, the

. extension 21A thereon engages and presses the lever member 86 torestoreit to its latched position indicated in Figure 10, to conditionthe apparatus for another subsequent cycle of operations initiated bydepositing another coin.

As the mutilated gear 59 on the one revolving shaft 58 continues torotate, it engages the teeth on the gear 48 to return the bucket I5 toits at rest position wherein the bucket is automatically opened by theforces imparted to cables 22 and 23 to discharge the contents of thebucket into a discharge chute. At the end of travel of the gear 59,projection 6| causes the switch 69 to open to thereby completelydeenergize the motor I8.

The bucket I5 may be constructed as shown in Figures through 24,inclusive, wherein the bucket has a pair of jaws H5 and II 6 with sidewalls III and,II'8, respectively. The upper ends of the said side wallsextend inwardly and terminate in ears I20. The ears on one jaw areoffset inwardly with respect to one another and overlap the ears of theother jaw to provide uni- .pl'anar external faces or walls on both jaws.The ears I29 are provided with openings through which a pivotal bolt orpin I25 extends. Bucket jaw II'B is slotted at I26 within which a springmember I'2'I is deposited to press the bolt or pin I25 in one of aseries of curved sections I29 of the slot I26, to thereby maintain thejaws H5 and H6 in adjusted position for a purpose described later. Forthis purpose it is noted that the spring I21 is of the leaf orcantilever type and has one of its ends afiixed to the jaw H6 and theother one of its ends arranged to engage the body of the pin I25 topress it into one of the curved sections I29 of the slot I25.

The lower ends of the bucket jaws H5 and H6 terminatein perforateextensions I and I36, respectively, between which a digit I31 isadjustably mounted in position by frictional forces. As the digits. [31,consist, of atooth bar having teeth thereon arranged to 'intermesh withcorresponding teethfon'the other bar, these digits I31 are'frictionallyheld'onthe bucket jaws II 5 and H6 by pins I38 passing through such jawsand through such digits. Each'of the digits I3! is susceptible toadjustment to any degree of angularity, thereby providingbucket jaws ofadjustable grasping power. These digits I31, may be convenientlyadjustedto decrease their'grasping power by squeezing the two bucket jaws H5 andH6 together. Upon such squeezing of the two bucket jaws H5 and H5, thedigits I31 revolve to adjusted "position about the pivot pins J38 uponwhich they, are maintained in position by frictional forces between thepin I88 and the digits. Further, each, bucket jaw has a weighted memberMB held in adjusted position thereon by the set screw I41 engaging thewalls defining the slotted portions I45. The position of these weightsI40, which may be of lead, also influences the grippingPOWer of thebucket jaws.

The bucket I5 is attached to the apparatus shown in the previous figuresby, attaching a 1ink.23A to the pin I25 and cable 23 and by connectingthe cables v22 to the bucket jaws H5 and H6 by means of links 22A. Thecables 22 serve tosupport the bucket and to maintain .the bucket. lawsin bucket opening position while the cab1e23. when stressed serves tomove the pin 425 upwardly to close the bucket. 7

It isevident that the gripping power ofthe bucket shown in Figures 20throughz i inclusive may be adjusted intnree diiferent ways; namely: 1.By, 'adjustingthe angular position of the digits I3Ton their supportingpins I33; ,h 2. 'By adjustment of the position of the weight rand v 3.By adjustment of the pin I25in the slotted portion I26 of the bucket jawI15.

Thus, for example, thegrippingpower of the bucket may be, increased bypivoting the digits I31 inwardly in thefdirection indicate-:1 by thearrows I50, by,moving theyveights its downwardly in thedirectionindicated by "the arrows I5i, and the gripping power of the bucket jawsmay be decreased by moving the pin in the slot I26 in the directionindicated by the fin-0 v I52. As explained-previously, the grippingpower of the bucket may be conveniently decreased by squeezing the twobucket jaws 'I I5 and I 55 to-- gether. Depending upon where thesqueezing pressure is applied, the digits]?! may be moved outwardlyorthe pin I25 may be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow I52in the slot I26. It is apparent that these two adjustments may be madesimultaneous;namely, adjustment of the digits I31 and adjustment of thepin I25.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be obvious tovv those skilled in the artthat changes and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects and, therforathe aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope ,of this invention.

I claim: p

1. In a machine of the character specified, a bucket havingtvvo relativemovable parts whereby the bucket may be opened or closed; a buckethoisting chain therefor and a bucket closing chain therefor; a boommember supporting said bucket; a rotatable cabsupporting said boom; arotatable drive shaft; a roller bearing member having an inner race andan outer race, the outer race being mounted eccentrically on said shaft,the outer race of said bearing member having a pair of projectionsthereon, one of said projections being attached to said bucket hoistingchain and the other one of said projections being attached to saidbucket closing chain.

2. A vending machine of the character described, including an upstandingrotatably mounted shaft; a roller bearing member having an inner raceand an outer race, the inner race being mounted eccentrically on saidshaft; a cabin fixed on the top of said shaft with a crane mountedthereon; cables trained through said crane, one end of each of whichpasses through the cabin and is attached to the outer race of saidroller bearing member; a shovel carried by the opposite ends of thecables; and a motor operatively connected to said shaft.

3. A Vending machine of the character described embodying amotor-operated digging and hoisting mechanism which includes a cranewith a pair of cables trained therethrough; a rotatable shaft; a rollerbearing member having an inner race and an outer race, the inner racebeing mounted eccentrically on said shaft; one end of each cableengaging the digging part of said mechanism; and arms mounted on theouter race of said roller bearing member, each of said arms beingengaged with one of the cables and movable by the motor through avertical arc to exert a stress on its cable as the arm is moved by saidmechanism.

4. A vending machine of the type specified including a digging andhoisting mechanism; means arranged to engage the digging and hoistingmechanism to raise and lower the digger of the latter; a motor inoperative connection with the digging and hoisting mechanism to raiseand lower the same; an electric circuit including said motor and diggingand hoisting mechanism; a normally open switch in said circuit; andmanually operated means engaged with said mechanism for moving thelatter in a horizontal arc and to simultaneously close said switch.

5. A vending machine of the character described including a digging andhoisting mechanism with a rotatable shaft; manually operated means inoperative connection with said mechanism to urge the latter into apredetermined position preparatory to beginning the digging operation; adisc mounted on said means and movable therewith; a ball bearing membereccentrically mounted on said shaft with the outer member thereof havinga pair of arms attached thereto; motive means including said arms inoperative connection with the digging and hoisting mechanism for raisingand lowering the bucket thereof; and means operated upon movement ofsaid disc by said manually operated means to rotate the digging andhoisting mechanism independently of the manually operated means forurging said mechanism into position for dispensing the materialsintercepted in the digging operation.

6. In a vending machine of the character described, a one revolutionshaft; a ball bearing member on said shaft having an inner and an outermember with the plane thereof at an acute angle with respect to the axisof said shaft; a pair of arms on said outer member; means guiding one ofsaid arms in a vertical line upon rotation of said shaft; a bucketmember; and flexible cable means connected between said arms and saidbucket to raise, lower, open and close the same in one revolution ofsaid shaft.

7. In a vending machine of the character described including asupporting structure for a bucket, a first rotatable shaft arranged tomove said supporting structure; a second rotatable shaft; flexible cablemeans movable with said second shaft arranged to hoist, lower, open andclose said bucket; and an intermittent drive between said first andsecond shafts comprising at least one mutilated gear.

GWYN E. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,369,963 Carlson Mar. 1, 19211,888,050 Rabkin et a1. Nov. 15, 1932 1,927,877 Meyer Sept. 26, 19332,166,854 Bartlett July 18, 1939

